Call for Proposals – Frequently Asked Questions
Interested in presenting at the 2022 Regional Meeting? Have questions about the Call for Proposals? Click the questions below to learn more about session types and tracks!
- What types of sessions are you looking for?
- Which track should I select for my presentation?
- What are the different session levels?
- What if I have an idea but need help finding someone to present with me?
Contact information for Track Leads and the Presenter Liaison can be found on our meeting Contact page.
What types of sessions are you looking for?
Concurrent Sessions: Concurrent sessions are 60- to 75-minute formal presentations. These sessions are usually lecture-style and have accompanying slides, but they are encouraged to be more interactive. Case studies and other structured creative activities are welcome. There is usually some question and answer time built in at the end. Proposals for concurrent sessions must include two or three specific learning objectives. Proposals for concurrent sessions should have at least two presenters.
Discussion Groups: Discussion groups are small group, facilitated conversations. Discussions are 60- to 75-minutes long and should usually have no more than two facilitators. Discussion group leaders promote active participation by suggesting a direction, posing questions, keeping the discussion on topic, helping participants make connections, etc. Specific learning objectives are not required. As discussion groups are usually in rooms with no A/V capabilities, no slides are required.
Workshops: These are deep-dive presentations, traditionally supported with slides and handouts. They are taught by subject matter experts in a classroom-style setting. Presenters may propose either a half-day or a full-day workshop, depending upon the subject matter to be covered. Workshops require three or more learning objectives.
Which track should I select for my presentation?
We have 10 tracks identified this year. Select the one that you feel is the best fit. If you feel it fits into multiple tracks, don’t worry! The program committee will discuss which track is the best fit and sessions can be cross-listed in the final program.
Compliance: Sessions related to all areas of research compliance, including risk assessment, animal care and use, human subjects, conflict of interest, export controls, data management, responsible conduct of research, environmental health and safety, etc.
Departmental: Sessions of interest to research administrators who report to an academic unit, research center, lab, or even a single PI.
Federal: Sessions related to funding opportunities, rules, and regulations for federal grants and contracts.
Pre-award: Sessions related to finding funding, putting proposal teams together, writing proposals, developing budgets, institutional review and approval processes, proposal submission, and post-submission follow-up activities such as resubmission.
Post-award: Sessions related to award setup, financial management, rebudgeting, expenditure review, subrecipient monitoring, financial reporting, audit, cost sharing, closeout, etc.
Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions (PUI): Sessions of interest to research administrators who work at institutions that are generally more focused on teaching than research, serve a mostly undergraduate student body, and/or are relatively new to applying for external funding and managing sponsored research projects.
Senior Administration: •This mini-track includes sessions of interest to very experienced research administrators, including topics such as succession planning, retirement considerations, giving back to the profession, and options for remaining active in the field post-retirement.
Electronic Research Administration (eRA): This mini-track focuses on techniques and tools to improve business processes and logistics using eRA and Cloud solutions to improve processes and manage organizational communications and change and more.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI): Sessions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in leadership, in research administration, and in applicable situations that impact the daily experiences of all.
Research Development: Sessions on strategic, proactive, catalytic, and capacity-building activities designed to facilitate individual faculty members, teams of researchers, and central research administrations in attracting extramural research funding, creating relationships, and developing and implementing strategies that increase institutional competitiveness.
What are the different session levels?
Basic sessions assume some level of fundamental knowledge of research administration. Participants have limited experience in the subject area. They may be completely new to research administration, or they may be looking to grow their knowledge in a new area.
Intermediate sessions are appropriate for individuals with some knowledge and experience in the subject area, individuals who are mid-level managers and directors in their fields with an established degree of competence, and those seeking to build on, apply, or enhance existing knowledge.
Advanced sessions focus on in-depth knowledge and are at a high level with peer-to-peer sharing, creativity, and innovation. Topics may be highly technical or detailed, preparing learners to shape organizational strategy and aid in the growth or progress of best practices. This level is appropriate for senior staff and executives with significant expertise, knowledge, and experience who could be deemed experts in the field.
Overview sessions provide a general review of a subject area from a broader perspective and are of interest to a variety of experience levels.
What if I have an idea but need help finding someone to present with me?
We can help you with that! We encourage you to reach out to our presenter liaison or any of the track chairs if you have questions. You can also submit your idea to the call for proposals and note that you do not have a co-presenter in mind.
Last Updated 11/17/2021